Footwear

ABSTRACT

Footwear characterized by comprising an upper portion ( 1 ), a shoe sole ( 2 ), and a fastener ( 3 ) that connects them, wherein a plurality of kinds of upper portions are exchangeably used by being connected by the fastener ( 3 ) with respect to the shoe sole that is made the basis. The footwear is arranged so that the shoe sole ( 2 ) is used by being connected by the fastener in such a manner that the kind of the upper portion is changed according to the purpose of use of the shoe. A cover depending from the upper portion or a cover ( 7 ) rising from the shoe sole covers the fastener; the fastener is a slide fastener encircling the shoe except the heel of the shoe sole; and the initial end and a portion adjacent the terminal end of the fastener ( 3 ) encircling the shoe sole ( 2 ) meet each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to footwear, in which both of anupper portion and a shoe sole are exchangeably used.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In sports shoes, sneakers, overshoes, boots, saddle shoes and thelike, an upper portion made of cloth or synthetic resin and a shoe solemade of synthetic resin, rubber or leather are completely integratedwith each other by sewing or gluing. In particular, it has beenconsidered that the sewing or gluing technique is important in order toenhance strength, durability and the like of the shoes.

[0003] In shoes hitherto, an upper portion and a shoe sole have beenintegrated with each other; therefore, they could not be separated fromeach other. As a consequence, if either one of the upper portion and theshoe sole has been broken, the shoes as a whole is to be disposed orleft in a shop or the like for repair, so that the shoes could not beused. Furthermore, in the case where shoes are limited to use at onlyindoors or outdoors, a user must prepare a pair of substituted shoes andchange the shoes when he or she moves from that location. Moreover,various designed shoes full of variety have been commercially availablein recent years, and it is general for the user to select ones of his orher shoes and change them in accordance with circumstances. Accordingly,if only the upper portion could be separated from the shoe sole andexchanged with another upper portion, storage spaces of the shoes can besaved since that the number of bulky shoe soles (which is solid andcannot be folded) can be reduced more than that of the upper portions,and that the shoes as a whole are not bulky; thereby providingconvenience. However, such shoes as described above have not been found.Thus, the inventor of the present invention has studied the footwear inwhich both of an upper portion and a shoe sole are exchangeably used.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0004] As a result of the study, the above-described problems can besolved by providing the footwear characterized by an upper portion, ashoe sole and a fastener that connects the upper portion and the shoesole together. That is, there is provided footwear wherein a pluralityof kinds of the upper portions are exchangeably used by being connectedby the fastener with respect to the shoe sole that is made the basis. Asa consequence, the footwear of which a user exchangeably uses the upperportion while wearing can be provided. As to the fastener, it can beadopted by hook & loop type fastener made of cloth, dot buttons or thelike in addition to a slide fastener. In particular, the slide fasteneris preferable from the viewpoint of strength and operability. Moreover,the upper portion herein is not limited only to a type which covers theentire instep of a foot, but a toe portion may be opened like sandals.

[0005] Additionally, there is provided footwear wherein the shoe sole isused by being connected by the fastener in such a manner that the kindof the shoe sole is changed according to the purpose of use of the shoewith respect to the upper portion that is made the basis. A shoe sole isspecial in shoes for, for example, roller skating, ice skating, icehockey or the like. According to the present invention, a user can movefrom the place if only the shoe sole is exchanged while the upperportion remains as it is after the use in playing those sports.

[0006] To avoid any damage or accident from the fastener, as well as toachieve sophisticated design of the shoes, the fastener is preferablycovered with a cover material (a skirt) depending from the upperportion, a cover material rising from the shoe sole, or both of thecover materials.

[0007] In addition, the fastener formed in such a manner that isencircling the shoe except a heel of the shoe sole is convenient since apiece which is remained at the upper portion of the heel is grasped byone hand while a slider of the fastener is easily operated by the otherhand when the fastener is attached or detached.

[0008] In an example that the fastener is a slide fastener, the fastenermeets portions adjacent the initial end and the terminal end of thefastener encircling the shoe sole each other. Consequently, it isunnecessary to remain a part of the heel of the footwear, so that theupper portion can be produced as a unit at the entire circumference.Even if the initial end and the terminal end are formed in one, theslider can be readily attached or detached with a flexible tape made ofcloth. Furthermore, it makes the design of the shoes excellent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a sports shoe in a preferredembodiment of footwear according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is anexploded perspective view showing the shoe; FIG. 3 is an enlarged sideview showing a portion designated by reference character P in FIG. 1;FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3; FIG. 5is a cross-sectional view showing an example, in which a cover materialdepends from an upper portion, corresponding to FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is across-sectional view showing an example, in which a cover material risesfrom a shoe sole, corresponding to FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is a plan view showingessential parts in a structure in which a fastener encircles the entirecircumference in the vicinity of the shoe sole; and FIG. 8 is anexploded perspective view showing essential parts in the case where aheel at the upper portion is high in the preferred embodiment of thefootwear according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0010] As is clear from FIGS. 1 to 3, footwear according to theembodiment comprises that an upper portion 1 and a shoe sole 2 areconnected together via a fastener 3. The fastener 3 in this embodimentis a slide fastener. The fastener 3 encircles the footwear except a heel4 of the shoe sole 2, so that a piece 5 is grasped by one hand while aslider 6 of the fastener is operated by the other hand when the fastener3 is operated, and thereby the upper portion 1 can be exchanged as afoot remains put on the shoe sole 2. To the contrary, in the cases wherethe shoe sole 2 is to be dried or sterilized with ultraviolet rays, onlythe shoe sole 2 is exchanged with a dried or sterilized shoe sole or ashoe sole which satisfies the purpose of use, so that the upper portion1 can be continuously used. Backing covers adjusting at center of therear portion of the upper portion 1 from a side or both sides thereofare preferably adopted, so as to prevent the slider 6 from contactingdirectly with a skin or being shifted during walking.

[0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 3,in which the fastener 3 is exposed to the outside. In this manner, thefastener 3 may be exposed in a design in which the fastener 3 isemphasized. In contrast, FIGS. 5 and 6 show structures in which thefastener 3 or the slider 6 is prevented from contacting directly with afoot or a sock, and which the fastener 3 or the slider 6 is concealed inview of a design. FIG. 5 shows an example in which covers 7 and 7 dependfrom the upper portion 1. Furthermore, FIG. 6 shows an example in whichthe covers 7 and 7 rise from the shoe sole 2. Although the covers 7 and7 are arranged at both of an inner surface and an outer surface of thefootwear, the cover 7 may be arranged only at either one surface.Moreover, the cover 7 may be partly arranged in such a manner as toconceal only the end portions of the fastener.

[0012] One of modes in which the upper portion 1 and the shoe sole 2 areconnected together via the fastener 3 is exemplified in a structure inwhich the fastener 3 encircles the entire circumference in the vicinityof the shoe sole 2. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing essential parts inthis case. By employing the structure in which the fastener 3 encirclingthe vicinity of the shoe sole 2 meets portions adjacent an initial end 3a and a terminal end 3 b each other, and further, in which the fastenerencircling the upper portion 1 meets the both ends thereof each other tobe thus inserted at one of the ends thereof into the slider 6, teeth(i.e., elements) of the fastener can be easily inserted into the slider6 at an early stage when the upper portion 1 and the shoe sole 2 areconnected together, thereby facilitating the connection. A slidefastener having small elements, such as elements for clothes, may beused so as to prevent the fastener from being exposed, as possible.

[0013] Although the footwear illustrated in the above preferredembodiment is directed to sports shoes, the present invention can beembodied by shoes for sneakers, overshoes, boots, saddle shoes andsandals. Further, it can be embodied by shoes for roller skating, iceskating and ice hockey and the like. Moreover, the present invention canbe applied also to a tabi by disposing a fastener at a bifurcatedportion near an instep of a foot.

[0014]FIG. 8 shows an example where a heel at the upper portion 1 ishigh. In this case, a fastener covering piece 8 is provided at an upperportion, thereby preventing the elements of the fastener 3 or the slider6 from being exposed at the upper portion of the heel and contactingdirectly with a foot, so as to eliminate pain. If a dot button 9 or ahook & loop fastener is arranged in the vicinity of the tip of thefastener covering piece 8, the upper portion of the heel can beprevented from being opened even in the case of that the upper portionof the heel is high at the upper portion 1. Otherwise, a cover having astructure for covering the heel from an upper inner surface thereof tothe entire outside surface thereof may be used as a cover for preventingthe upper portion of the heel from being opened. There can be conceivedshoes having the upper portion 1 higher than the piece 5, like basketshoes. Additionally, there can be conceived shoes in which the piece 5consists of the initial end and the terminal end of the slide fastener3.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0015] The footwear according to the present invention has advantages inthat the detached upper portion can be easily washed by a washingmachine, and can be promptly dried. Since the upper portion and the shoesole are separated from each other and are connected together via thefastener, only a broken upper portion or a broken shoe sole can bedisposed or repaired in the case where either one of the upper portionand the shoe sole is broken. Therefore, the footwear according to thepresent invention can be continuously used by exchanging the brokenportion. Moreover, the footwear according to the present invention hasan advantage that a user need not be changed the whole shoes utilizingby simply exchanging either one of the upper portion and the shoe solein the case where he or she must change the shoes in order to move toanother place. Consequently, the user can respond to various situationsadequately by exchanging only the shoe sole if the user carries aplurality of shoe soles. In addition, needs can be met with ease byexchanging the upper portions full of variety, which are variouslydesigned, have various patterns or are made of various materials (e.g.,fabric, leather and synthetic leather). It is not only convenient sincethe above-described shoes can reduce the space occupied even when theuser carries the shoes, but also adaptable with variations in weather.As described above, according to the present invention, the footwearthat can be used in various manners only by exchanging either one of theupper portion and the shoe sole can be provided.

1: Footwear comprising: an upper portion (1); a shoe sole (2); and afastener (3) that connects the upper portion (1) and the shoe sole (2)together. 2: Footwear according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of kindsof the upper portions (1) are exchangeably used by being connected bythe fastener (3) with respect to the shoe sole (2) that is made thebasis. 3: Footwear according to claim 1, wherein the shoe sole (2) isused by being connected by the fastener (3) in such a manner that thekind of the shoe sole is changed according to the purpose of use of theshoe with respect to the upper portion (1) that is made the basis. 4:Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe fastener (3) is covered with a cover (7) depending from the upperportion (1) or a cover (7) rising from the shoe sole (2). 5: Footwearaccording to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the fastener (3) isformed in such a manner that is encircling the shoe except a heel (4) ofthe shoe sole (2). 6: Footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 3,wherein the fastener (3) is a slide fastener, and meets portionsadjacent an initial end and a terminal end of the fastener (3)encircling the shoe sole (2) each other. 7: Footwear according to 4,wherein the fastener (3) is formed in such a manner that is encirclingthe shoe except a heel (4) of the shoe sole (2).